Tank.



J. w. FRANK.

TANK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. [3. 1916.

Patented July 31, 1917'.

C i A A m W T H M u w w 1 0 i i Q W M M w K a r INVENTOR x z jiwwk.

WITNESSES ATTO R N EY JOHN w. FRANK, or MILO, rowel TAN K.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 11?.

Application filed October 13, 1916. Serial No. 125,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. FRANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milo, in the county of Warren and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tanks, and more particularly to a tank for containing gasolene and similar explosive liquids.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a tank so constructed that the contents thereof will be protected from excessive heat. A further object is to provide a tank in which the container is so constructed as to prevent unnecessary splashing or agitation of the contents of the tank. A Still further object is to provide a tank having means whereby evaporation of the contents of the tank is prevented. Still further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the tank,

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view through the tank,

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4: is a central vertical sectional view through the casing, and

Fig. 5 is an underneath view of the closing cap.

The outer tank 1 is of cylindrical shape being provided, at each end, with the rounded or convexed head 2. This tank is composed of an upper section 1 and a lower section 1 of semi-cylindrical shape, each of these sections being provided with a rectangularly disposed peripheral flange 1. These two flanges are secured together by 40 bolts 3, a suitable packing means or gasket 4 being interposed between the flanges so as to effect a fluid tight closure between the same. At its longitudinal center, the tank 1 is provided with an integral inwardly ex- 45 tending sleeve 5. This sleeve is of frustoconical shape and is diametrically opposite to a similar oppositely directed sleeve '6 formed integral withv the tank 1. The tank 1 is further provided with an outwardly ex- 50 tended nipple 7 concentric with sleeve 5. This nipple is exteriorly threaded to receive a closing cap 8 adapted to be threaded on to the same. This cap is provided, on its underface, with a downwardly extending sleeve 55 9 the lower end of which is beveled inwardly to form a valve seat for the frusto-conical valve 10. This valve has its stem slidably mounted through an enlargement 11 of a spider 12 carried by the sleeve 9 and is normally held in raised position by a coil spring 13 interposed between the spider and the. valve and mounted about the valve stem. A control cook 14 is threaded into the top of cap 8 and communicates with the interior of sleeve 9.

An inner tank 15 is mounted inside of tank 1 concentric therewith. This inner tank is supported by perforated rings 16 interposed between the same and the outer tank. These rings are held in spaced relation by means of spacing rods 17 secured to the same the ends of which fit snugly against the heads of the outer tank. The rods 17 and rings 16thus constitute a cage for holding the inner tank in spaced relationto the outer tank. Tank 15 is provided, at the longitudinal center of its top with an outwardly tapering frusto-conical sleeve 18 which is disposed approximately concentric with sleeve 5' of tank 1. A second sleeve 19 is formed integral with the tank 15 diametrically opposite to sleeve 18 and disposed oppositely thereto. Sleeve 19 extends into the sleeve 6 of tank 1 and is approximately concentric therewith. A packing ring 20 is interposed between sleeves 6 and 19 so as to eifect a fluid tight closure between the same. A similar ring 21 is interposed between the sleeves 5 and 18 for the same purpose. By this means the inner tank 15' is maintained in spaced relation to the outer tank 1, and all communication between the interiors of these two tanks is efi'ectually closed.

The outer tank 1 is'provided with an integral approximately hemispherical settling .head or chamber 22 in axial alinement with sleeve 19. A draw ofi cook 23 is threaded into the bottom of the head 22 and may be connected up to a suitable supply tube or pipe in the usual manner.

The tank 1 is provided with a suitably located exhaust cock 24 which may be connected up to an exhaust pump for the purpose of exhausting the air in the space be tween the two tanks. By this means a vacuum is produced surrounding the inner tank. This vacuum serves to elfectually prevent the inner tank from being subjected to unusual changes in temperature, thus eliminating the danger of explosion of the contents of the tank from this source. an additional safe guard the tank 1 is provided with a covering 25 of asbestos or other suitable heat insulatmg material secured by the bands 26 passed about the tank and secured to the flanges 1. A. tank constructed in this manner, due to the fact that the fuel container is surrounded by a vacuum, serves to eflt'ectually protect the fuel from all unusual changes in temperature such as would tend to cause explosion of the fuel.

The inner tank 15 is provided with a plurality of spaced rings 27 secured in the same. Eachof these rings is rovided, near its periphery, with a plurality of equally spaced apertures 28. These rings serve to efiectually prevent sudden movement of the gasolene from one end of the tank toward the other such as would occur in tanks of ordinary construction if the tank were inclined. This eliminates all danger of spilling of the fuel due to violent agltation or splashing.

In addition, in the event of the tank being tipped at such an angle that the fuel rises into sleeve 18, the valve 10 will be held tightly on its seat in sleeve 9 so as to prevent spilling of the fuel. When the tank is not in use, the air control cock H may be closed thus efi'ectually reventing loss of fuel by evaporation. W'hen the tank is in use, the cook 14 is opened so as to permit entry of air into the tank, the spring 13 of valve 10 being of such strength as to normally hold the valve in operative position but not interfere with the downward flow of air into the tank.

A tank constructed in accordance with my invention is especially adapted for use in connection with aeroplanes, and similar vehicles in which the tank is apt, at times, to be inclined at a considerable angle, and the inclination of the tank is likely to be varied or changed suddenly so'as to cause the fuel to flow rapidly'from one end of the tank toward the other end. In tanks of ordinary construction this movement of the fluid would cause splashing and violent agitation of the fuel such as would result in spilling fuel from the tank and would interfere with the proper flow of the fuel from the tank. This sudden movement ofthe fuel is prevented by the plates 27 and all spillingof the fuel is prevented by the valve 10. In addition, the fuel containing tank 15 is surrounded by a vacuum so as to effectually protect the fuel from becoming heated to such a temperature as to cause explosion of the same. 7

It will be evident that there may be slight changes made in the construction and arrangement of the different parts of my in vention without departing from the field and scope of the same, and I intend to include all such changes, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

What I claim is:

1. A. container having an outer tank provided with inwardly dlrected diametrically opposite sleeves, an inner tank mounted" in the outer tank in spaced relation therewith and provided with diametrically opposite sleeves extending into the sleeves of the outer tank, means for effecting fluid tight closures between the sleeves of the outer tank and the sleeves of the inner tank, a plurality of spaced perforated plates secured in the inner tank and disposed longitudinally of the same, spacing rings interposed between the said inner andouter tanks, and spacing rods secured to the said rings at the outer eri heries thereof and in engagement with t e lnner peripheral face'of the outer tank.

2. A container having an outer tank provided with inwardly directed diametrically opposite sleeves, an inner tank mountedin the outer tank in spaced relation therewith and provided with diametrically opposite sleeves extending into the sleeves of the outer tank, means for eifecting fluid tight closures between the sleeves of the outer tank and the sleeves of the inner tank, a plurality of spaced perforated plates secured in the inner tank and disposed longitudinally of the same, spacing rings interposed between the said inner and outer tanks, and spacing rods secured to the sa d rings at the outer peri heries thereof and in engagement with the'inner perlpheral surface of the outer tank, the ends of said rods 

